Dial "N" for Nerder/References
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Cultural references
- The episode title is a pun on the Alfred Hitchcock film Dial M for Murder.
- The episode's closing sequence duplicates the opening sequence of the NBC Mystery Movie, with Nelson Muntz as Columbo, Dr. Hibbert as Quincy, The Rich Texan as McCloud and Mr. Burns and Smithers as McMillan & Wife.
- Nelson's method for investigating the murder of Martin is very similar to Columbo's.
- Sneakers, the TV show Marge asks to catch Homer cheating on his diet, is a parody of the reality TV show Cheaters.
- The "Taj-Mah-All-You-Can-Eat" restaurant takes its name from the Taj Mahal.
- Songs heard at Martin's funeral:
- The first song is "Gonna Fly Now", the theme from Rocky.
- The second song (played during the slideshow) is "I Will Remember You" by Sarah McLachlan.
- The scene where Bart and Lisa meet at the Kwik-E-Mart resembles a famous scene from Double Indemnity.
- References to Macbeth:
- Lisa urges Bart to keep quiet about their involvement in Martin's death, similar to Lady Macbeth convincing Macbeth to calm down and lie about Duncan's murder.
- Lisa also states that she has a dark side, like Lady Macbeth.
- The restaurant which Homer goes to, "Pudding on the Ritz", is a pun on the song "Puttin' on the Ritz" written by Irving Berlin.
- The scene where Marge chases Bart and Lisa out of the house with a broom references a recurring gag in the comedy series Last of the Summer Wine.
- The announcer mentions his dad as the reverend Billy Graham Junior referencing one of the Simpsons writers.
Continuity
- Some of the scenes with Martin at his funeral are from previous episodes: "Girls Just Want to Have Sums", "Bye, Bye, Nerdie", "Treehouse of Horror III", "Fat Man and Little Boy", "Three Men and a Comic Book".
Trivia
- After Bart steals Sideshow Mel's bone, we see his true hair.
- Some of Martin's nicknames are Martin Prince, Martin Princess, Martin Priss, Fartin' Prince, Martin the Brown-Noised Reindeer. The nickname references Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the term "brown nose". The first two names were used by a frustrated Bart in "Lisa's Substitute".
- Nelson is playing a lute when he steps from behind the butterfly tree.
